As part of this new chapter, 91快活林 is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. James E. Jones as Interim President.

Dr. Jones brings more than four decades of experience in higher education teaching, academic leadership, religious studies,organization development and community engagement. He is Professor Emeritus of World Religions and former Chair of both the Department of World Religions and the African Studies Program at Manhattanville University and one of the founders of the Islamic Seminary of America. His scholarship and professional work in the United States and abroad have focused on the sociocultural impact of prejudice and the intersections of race, gender, and religion.

Dr. Jones holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hartford International University for Religion and Peace with a focus on Christian-Muslim relations and a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School. He has served as a scholar, educator, institutional leader, and mentor, bringing extensive experience in interfaith engagement, religious studies, and higher education administration.

In his role as President, Dr. Jones will help guide 91快活林 during this transitional period of growth and collaboration, working alongside institutional leadership to advance academic excellence, strengthen operations, and support the shared mission of expanding meaningful educational opportunities for students.

鈥淚n today’s divisive and fractured world, it is now more important than ever that like-minded higher education institutions work together for the purpose of nurturing ethical and effective leadership. I am humbled and honored that 91快活林’s Board chose me to lead 91快活林 as it endeavors to strengthen Islamically rooted education in North America 鈥�- Dr. James Jones.

Together, 91快活林 and The Islamic Seminary of America look forward to building a future where faith, scholarship, and service come together to prepare thinkers, chaplains, Imams, scholars, and leaders to contribute to the betterment of the world.

Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 1:00 – 5:30 pm (includes light reception)

Arrive 1:00 PM Chicago Theological Seminary
Free and ample parking in the back (South) lot of CTS. You may enter in building’s north or south doors

1:00 Orientation and Viewing of Models at Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS)
2:00-5:00pm Trolley visits to: KAM Isaiah Israel, Al-Sadiq Mosque, and St Benedict the African
5:00-5:30 Faith, Flavor & Friendship Reception at CTS

Stops
Al-Sadiq Mosque

Program

Inspired by听, our time together will begin with the viewing of the exhibit, followed by an overview of the installation. We will then engage in a brief orientation before embarking on our journey together. After the tour, we will debrief over some light refreshments during our Faith, Flavor, & Friendship reception.

We look forward to seeing you onboard! Hurry and reserve your seats as these tours sell out quickly!

Celebrate 250 years of the American experiment with a journey through the living history of faith in Chicago. Hop aboard our 5th Annual Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour to explore the vibrant religious and cultural landscape of the city in and around Hyde Park.

With a special focus on architecture and history, participants will learn about the faith traditions rooted in each space, the stories embodied in their buildings, and the interfaith collaborations that strengthen our shared civic life. At a time when the nation reflects on 250 years, the Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour highlights how local communities model coexistence, hospitality, and mutual understanding. Through storytelling, scholarship, and shared experience, this event offers a fun, educational, and welcoming way to encounter the spiritual expressions that shape Chicago, and America, today.

A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago fosters and deepens relations between Christians and Muslims and builds bridges of mutual understanding, respect and cooperation among people of all faiths. To learn more visit www.lstc.edu

The Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter at 91快活林 is commited to thoughtful, respectful, and socially impactful inter-religious engagement. It is inspired by a shared belief in the value of transformative, relational, and experiential learning. www.aicusa.edu

At Chicago Theological Seminary, our mission is to educate and inspire the next generation of religious leadership. As a historically Protestant and now multifaith seminary, we are commited to racial and social justice, to gender equality and to deep interreligious engagement. www.ctschicago.edu

Nora Zaki Mantas is the founder of MyMuslimChaplain.com, a consultation company for chaplaincy. She served as the chaplain at Dominican University in Chicago and as the Advisor for Muslim Student Life at Vassar and Bard Colleges in upstate New York. Nora has a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago and Master of Arts in Islamic Studies from Bayan Islamic Graduate School. Nora taught Introduction to World Religions at Dominican University. Nora is fluent in Arabic and a beginner speaker of Turkish.

She is a mother of two young children and enjoys spending time outdoors, even in the cold Chicago winters.

is a Professor of Practice in Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University Bloomington.

His research bridges Chinese history, Central Eurasian Studies, and Islamic studies, with a focus on the Hui Muslim communities of Yunnan Province. His work examines mosque architecture, the halal food industry, and the political economy of Muslim life in contemporary China.
Dr. Brose is also active in digital history, using GIS and network analysis to study data from Chinese historical sources such as gazetteers and tomb inscriptions.

His publications include:
鈥� 鈥溾�� (Review of Religion and Chinese Society)
鈥� 鈥溾�� (International Journal of Food Design)
鈥� 鈥溾�� (Asia Pacific: Perspectives)

He has also written on Mongol and Ming history and on the combining quantitative and historical methods to study social networks across Eurasia.

Nader Hashemi is the Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and an Associate Professor of Middle East and Islamic Politics at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

He obtained his doctorate from the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto and previously was an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at Northwestern University and a Visiting Assistant Professor at the UCLA Global Institute.

Dr. Hashemi was previously the founding Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. While there, he was also Co-Director of the Religion and International Affairs certificate program, as well as the Political Theory Initiative.

His intellectual and research interests lie at the intersection of comparative politics and political theory, in particular debates on the global rise of authoritarianism, religion and democracy, secularism and its discontents, Middle East and Islamic politics, democratic and human rights struggles in non-Western societies and Islam-West relations.

He is the author of Islam, Secularism and Liberal Democracy: Toward a Democratic Theory for Muslim Societies (Oxford University Press, 2009) and co-editor of The People Reloaded: The Green Movement and the Struggle for Iran鈥檚 Future (Melville House, 2011), The Syria Dilemma (MIT Press, 2013), Sectarianization: Mapping the New Politics of the Middle East (Oxford University Press, 2017) and a four-volume study on Islam and Human Rights: Critical Concepts in Islamic Studies (Routledge, 2023).

He is the editor of the Oxford Handbook on Islam and Secularism (Oxford University Press, forthcoming) and his next book project focuses on explaining the global divide over Israel/Palestine.

He is frequently interviewed by PBS, NPR, CNN, CBC, Al Jazeera, Alternative Radio, Pacifica Radio and the BBC and his writings have appeared in the New York Times, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, The Nation, Al Jazeera Online, among other media outlets.

He is also a Non-Resident Fellow at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).

Learn more about him .

Date: July 26, 2025

Participants:

• Aytug Izat
• Prof. Dr. Alparslan Acikgenc
• Interviewer: Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Ozdemir

Introduction and General Atmosphere

On the evening of July 26, 2025, I conducted a Zoom interview with Mr. Aytug Izat to preserve key memories and historical reflections on the early years of the 91快活林 (91快活林). We were joined by Prof. Dr. Alparslan Acikgenc, a longtime friend of Mr. Izat from their time in Chicago and a former student of the late Fazlur Rahman at the University of Chicago.

At Mr. Izat鈥檚 request, the interview was conducted in Turkish. The discussion ranged widely, beginning with his arrival in the U.S. and continuing through his involvement in establishing 91快活林. The following is a chronological summary of the topics discussed.

Arriving in America: First Impressions

Aytug Izat:
When we arrived in the United States, we came with a vision shaped by old advertisements and idealistic portrayals. We believed America to be the center of democracy, human rights, and respect for free will. In many ways, this was true鈥攂ut it was also a chaotic and contradictory society, full of contradictions between its ideals and realities.

I traveled via Moscow and spent three days there with Alparslan Bey鈥攜ou may recall. Before entering the U.S., we were thoroughly searched at the Moscow airport, and even my tourist souvenirs and photos were confiscated.

I spent my first night in New York, and it quickly became clear how dangerous the streets were and how unsafe ordinary people felt. I later learned鈥攎uch to my shock鈥攖hat in 1974, the city had approximately 60,000 police officers but an estimated 66,000 gang members.

We also faced the harsh reality of discrimination. Among the most unwanted groups in American society at the time were Turks and African Americans. Ironically, my research later revealed that Turkish Americans had a higher-than-average education and income level. In neighborhoods with large Turkish and Muslim populations, crime rates were remarkably low, and social problems like alcohol, drugs, gambling, and prostitution were nearly nonexistent. Despite this, dominant groups often sought to belittle Muslims and Turks鈥攁 contradiction that had a profound impact on me.

In response, I felt a strong calling to help raise awareness among Turkish and Muslim communities in America. In 1977, I co-founded the Muslim Lobby with Rahman Khan from Afghanistan. I even participated in the Republican Party Convention where Ronald Reagan was nominated, representing Muslim communities. This opened doors to communication with many political figures and Muslim leaders, including African American Muslims, the late Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, and many others.

Chicago State University and Dr. Mohammad Abdul Waheed Fakhri

While working at Chicago State University, I met Dr. Mohammad Abdul Waheed Fakhri, a distinguished Pakistani educator and a profoundly committed intellectual. I was leading a federally funded project evaluating university academic programs at the time, and we quickly became close colleagues.

Dr. Fakhri introduced me to several Islamic organizations, beginning with ISNA (Islamic Society of North America). During a visit, I was unexpectedly elected president of the Muslim Educators鈥� Association, a sub-organization under ISNA.

Prof. Ozdemir:
You served as president?

Aytug Izat:
Not of ISNA itself, but of the Muslim Educators鈥� Association. It was a surprising election. Dr. Fakhri said, 鈥淭here are divisions among the groups here. We have a Turkish brother among us, and Turks are known for being organized and disciplined. Let鈥檚 elect him as president.鈥� And so, they did.

However, it wasn鈥檛 an easy task. Despite setting clear rules and drafting bylaws, implementation was poor. The organizational disarray bothered me deeply, and I eventually stepped down. Looking back, I see how much both ISNA and 91快活林 have changed since those days.

Chicago Elections and Harold Washington

In 1983, I was teaching a Social Sciences and Research course at Chicago State University. That year鈥檚 local elections presented a unique opportunity for fieldwork. My students and I conducted surveys and analyzed voting trends.

The university鈥檚 vice president, Dr. Williams, was a close friend of Harold Washington, a Black Democratic mayoral candidate. He asked if we had any analysis on the race. I told him we did. We knew the Italian-American mafia had significant influence over Chicago politics, and although Washington had strong grassroots support, many doubted he could win.

I said, 鈥淭here are 250,000 Muslim voters in Chicago who typically don鈥檛 participate. It could shift the outcome if Harold Washington can establish a direct connection with the Muslim community.鈥�

We included Muslim voters in the campaign strategy and submitted sealed predictions. The final results nearly matched our forecast鈥擶ashington won with a margin of only 0.3%. Muslim support proved decisive.

Following this success, I was asked to establish and lead the Commission on International Relations in Chicago, a position I gladly accepted.

The Founding of 91快活林

Initial efforts to establish the 91快活林 (91快活林) had begun during this period. A building was to be purchased, and Dr. Mohammad Abdul Waheed Fakhri had been offered the position of Dean and Professor, which he accepted. He invited me to visit 91快活林 with him. During that visit, they said, 鈥淲hy don鈥檛 you join us too?鈥� And I agreed.

I had some friends over for breakfast on the Sunday before our visit. The television was on, and suddenly Ismail al-Faruqi appeared on the screen, speaking on Islamic topics. His face radiated light, and his words were powerful.

We were captivated. My guests were equally mesmerized.

I remember thinking, 鈥淭here are still such noble people in the world…鈥�

A few days later, Dr. Fakhri and I attended an event where I met Ismail al-Faruqi in person. I had admired him from afar and meeting him in person left an even deeper impression.

He said, 鈥淚n sha Allah, you will come here.鈥�
I replied, 鈥淲e鈥檙e already planning to.鈥�
Only later did I find out it was actually al-Faruqi who had arranged for me to be invited.

Prof. Ozdemir: So, it was al-Faruqi who invited you to 91快活林?

Aytug Izat: Yes, absolutely. If I had met him in my youth, we might have clashed. In earlier years, he was quite doctrinaire鈥攕trongly Pan-Arabist and Pan-Islamist. But over time, his views evolved. He began advocating for interfaith dialogue, conveying Islam鈥檚 universal message with greater inclusivity.

What was most compelling about him was his presence. That one televised appearance sparked admiration for Islam across viewers鈥攂ut sadly, he was never invited to speak on air again. And tragically, he and his wife were later murdered in their home.

Thus began my journey with 91快活林.

Soon after, we returned to Chicago, and with the Islamic Development Bank’s support, the 91快活林 property was purchased.

The 91快活林 Campus and the Founding Phase

Aytug Izat: Ibrahim Bey, had you seen the 91快活林 buildings before?

Prof. Ozdemir: Yes, I visited in 1997 for a conference and had the opportunity to tour the campus.

Aytug Izat: The buildings were magnificent and had formerly been used as a Catholic convent school. They were acquired for $3.5 million under the condition to be used for educational purposes. Today, I believe the property would be valued at $15鈥�20 million.

We removed Christian symbols鈥攃rosses and decorative plasterwork鈥攚ith a Lebanese friend from the upper floors. During this process, we faced threats. Dead animals were thrown onto our cars, and we received intimidating letters.

It was not an easy time.

I rented an apartment on the 17th floor of a building across from the college. During this time, I met Dr. Ahmad Sakr, who served as 91快活林’s Secretary-General. He was a charismatic and persuasive leader. When I joined the faculty, I was given the roles of Registrar and Admissions Officer and became responsible for student financial aid.

But our work wasn鈥檛 confined to the office. We would travel by car to various universities and cities to promote 91快活林.

The early years were spent mainly on the road.

We hadn’t even begun admitting students when Harold Washington and Muhammad Ali visited 91快活林. We didn鈥檛 yet have functioning meeting halls or classrooms.

At that time, attracting students was a major challenge. We decided to offer free courses to all applicants.

Alhamdulillah, this approach brought in genuinely talented and committed students.

Internal Sincerity, External Criticism

We faced many curious incidents. Internally, we had decided to take turns leading Friday and daily prayers. One day, it was my turn. As I stepped forward, someone from the back objected: 鈥淵ou shouldn鈥檛 lead; you don鈥檛 have a beard!鈥�

Someone else stepped forward and led the prayer instead. In that moment, I thought: Faith resides in the heart, yet some people judge solely based on outward appearance. They condemn without understanding.

There were also some somewhat naive attitudes at times.

The call to prayer was usually made by administrators or faculty members, based on the prayer times for the Chicago longitude. When new students heard the adhan during class, they would leave immediately and head to prayer without even asking the professor for permission.

Getting them to understand that disrupting a class was inappropriate and that the prayer could still be performed within its designated time window was quite a challenge.

In addition, some students considered eating at a desk 鈥渁gainst the Sunnah鈥� and insisted that meals should be eaten on the floor. We had to deal with those issues as well.

Over time, things became more balanced. However, before I left, I began to suspect that some students or staff had outside affiliations. It felt like they had been placed at 91快活林 with a particular agenda.

That marked a serious turning point.

Meeting T. B. Irving: Scholar of Language and the Quran

One of the most influential people I met in those years was Professor T. B. Irving. Originally from Canada, he converted to Islam at age 19. He spoke more than 15 languages fluently and was a brilliant intellect.

While traveling in Latin America鈥攑erhaps Mexico鈥攈e once heard an epic poem, and by the time he returned, he had transformed it into verse and submitted it to a publisher.

He was meticulous about English and Arabic.

He had reviewed nearly 45 English translations of the Quran and criticized their use of Christian terms that distorted the Quranic message. His translation used accessible American English and was preceded by a detailed introduction explaining his method.

His analysis of the word 鈥渟耻产尘颈蝉蝉颈辞苍鈥� still resonates with me. In Christianity, it often implies passive surrender, whereas in Islam, it signifies a conscious, voluntary orientation of the heart. He taught us the profound significance of linguistic nuance.

Institutional Challenges

Some colleagues tried to impose their cultural habits as if they were Islamic traditions. I would push back: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 your culture, not Islam.鈥�

We had to focus on substance, not form.

Converts like T. B. Irving often grasped the essence of Islam better than those born into the faith.

Support from Mayor Harold Washington

One vital but often forgotten figure in 91快活林鈥檚 early success was Harold Washington, the first African-American mayor of Chicago. He supported 91快活林 in accreditation and official procedures. Sadly, that relationship later deteriorated, perhaps due to mutual misunderstandings. Nevertheless, his support was critical.

History should remember that had Harold Washington not sought Muslim support, he likely would not have won the election.

Al-Faruqi鈥檚 Vision for 91快活林

Prof. Ozdemir: What was al-Faruqi鈥檚 vision for 91快活林?

Aytug Izat: It was crystal clear. He wanted an institution that could intellectually represent Islam鈥攏ot just in theology, but also in the social sciences and the arts. He envisioned a Muslim university that could sit at the academic table alongside leading Western institutions鈥�a bridge between the Muslim world and America, grounded in scholarship and ethics.

Lost Archives and Photographs

91快活林 once had many historic photographs鈥擧arold Washington, Elijah Muhammad鈥檚 son Warith Deen Mohammed, Muhammad Ali, Dr. Ahmad Sakr, and I all in one frame. That photo was enlarged and displayed, but one day it vanished, as did many documents, archives, and memories.

Prime Minister Turgut Ozal鈥檚 Visit to 91快活林 (1986)

In 1986, Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal visited 91快活林 during an official trip to the U.S. I joined the last-minute delegation upon Hasan Celal Guzel’s invitation. 91快活林 was not initially on the itinerary. I briefed Ozal on the plane, and the visit was added.

Though brief鈥攐nly 30 minutes鈥擮zal was impressed. He said, 鈥�Let鈥檚 support this institution,鈥� and instructed his staff accordingly. Sadly, most photos taken that day were later lost鈥攁t least those in my possession.

Al-Faruqi鈥檚 Silent Vision and Lost Manuscript

Al-Faruqi was not a man of many words. Our conversations were usually brief, over breakfast or lunch. He believed interfaith dialogue was an ontological necessity.

鈥�Each religion ascends the same mountain from a different side,鈥� he would say.

Tragically, the manuscript in which he expressed these views vanished after his assassination鈥攑erhaps intentionally taken by his killer.

The Mission of Education: Cultivating Virtuous Individuals

Islam calls us to read, record, live ethically, share beauty, and be grateful.

It urges a harmony of knowledge, wisdom, and virtue鈥攏ot mere form, but moral substance. Education and governance aim to cultivate ethical individuals and leaders who recognize that even animals and plants are part of our moral community.

Dr. Fakhri: The Quiet Founder

Dr. Abdul Waheed Fakhri was a perfectionist, dignified, and preferred to stay behind the scenes. In truth, he was the principal founder of 91快活林, both academically and administratively. He was responsible for at least 90% of the academic infrastructure.

Patient, visionary, and an exceptional communicator.

Remembering as a Responsibility

Many in today鈥檚 91快活林 leadership may not know this history. But remembering is not only a duty to the past鈥攊t is a legacy for the future.

May God bless all who contributed.
May He grant peace and wisdom to those still among us.

Final Note:

This interview offers a vital window into the early years of 91快活林, highlighting the sacrifices, testimonies, and contributions of Aytug Izat within a larger historical context. At its heart stands the visionary leadership of Ismail al-Faruqi, the dedication of Dr. Fakhri, and the rising consciousness of the American Muslim community amid political and cultural challenges.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Aytug Izat and Prof. Dr. Alparslan Acikgenc for this invaluable conversation. As I begin a new chapter in my life and leadership at 91快活林, their wisdom and support are deeply needed and appreciated.

Let us always remember and honor those who laid the foundation of this noble institution in the spirit of the timeless wisdom of our beloved Prophet 锓�, who said:

廿賽賳賾賻 丕賱丿賾賻丕賱賾賻 毓賻賱賻賶 丕賱賿禺賻賷賿乇賽 賰賻賮賻丕毓賽賱賽賴 鈥�

鈥淲hoever leads to good, he is like the one who does it.鈥� (at-Tirmidhi 2670)

91快活林 Aytug Izat

Mr. Aytug Izat was born in 1943 in Elazig, Turkiye, and grew up in the village of Yurtbasi. From an early age, Aytug Bey was inspired by one guiding principle: to help others truly, one must first gain deep knowledge and then pass it on. This conviction led him to pursue a life devoted to education.

He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in special education and educational psychology from Ankara University and a Master鈥檚 in Curriculum Development and Evaluation from Hacettepe University.

In 1974, he traveled to the United States to pursue doctoral studies in Comparative Education at the University of Chicago. During this time, he also served as a research assistant and taught courses at the University of Chicago and Chicago State University. He was the Registrar and Admissions Officer of 91快活林.

Upon returning to Turkiye in 1984, he worked at the State Planning Organization under the Prime Ministry, serving within the Education Group. He later joined Hacettepe University as Assistant to the Director, contributing to academic administration and program development.

From 1985 to 1991, Mr. Izat served as Deputy Undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture, where he played a key role in shaping national cultural and educational policies.

Since retiring, he has made his home in Izmir, continuing to share his knowledge and experiences through writing, mentorship, and community engagement.